Knockdown show-case



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. E. MISTROT. KNOGKDOWN SHOW CASE.

No. 578,019. Patented Mar; 2, 1897.

,m M 956% o z Z, R D J m 0 2 Z w 2 NE w a G v M n WM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

F. EMISTROT. KNOGKDOWN SHOW CASE.

(No Model.)

RNA 1 1 7/ UNITED STATES FELIX E. MISTROT,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF BRYAN, TEXAS.

KNOCKDOWN SHOW-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,019, dated March 2, 1897.

Application filed March 21, 1896.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that 1, FELIX E. MISTROT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bryan, in the county .of Brazos and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Knockdown Show-Case, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to show-cases, and has for its object to provide an article'of this character of novel construction whereby the case may be readily knocked down or taken apart for the purposes of storage and transportation or for replacing broken panes of glass, the said case being composed of a number of separable parts which may be easily and quickly disassociated for the purpose mentioned.

The invention also has for its object to so construct and arrange the several parts of the case that they will mutually brace and support each other. i

To this end the invention consists in a showcase embodying certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved knockdown show-case constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the base of the show-case, also the several uprights and panels. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top frame of the case. Fig. 4 is a reverse plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the complete case, taken in line with the cornerposts at one end. Fig. 6 is a similar view taken at a point intermediate the end and middle Serial No- 584,290. (No model.)

rests 3, upon which the flooring -l of the case is supported. These cleats are located at a distance below the upper surface of the frame 2 equal to the thickness of the floor 4, in order to bring .the upper surface of the floor flush with the corresponding surface of the frame 2, which adds materially to the attractive appearance of the case as distinguished from cases in which the flooring is simply secured to the bottom of the base-frame.

5 designates a series of corner-uprights, and 6 a pair of intermediate or central uprights. A groove 7 in the upper surface of the front bar of the base-frame extends longitudinally thereof and passes through the plane in which the intermediate or central upright is located, terminating at its opposite ends in vertical mortises 8 at thecorners of the frame. These corner-mortises are preferably square and are adapted to receive correspondingly-shaped tenons 9, projecting .downward from and formed on the corner-uprights. In order to form a firm support for the tenons 9 of the 11 bears against the bottom of the frame to which it is then secured. At its top edge the socket 10 is formed with notches 12, which register with the longitudinal groove 7 and one or the other of the transverse grooves 13 at each end of the case, the object of the notches being to provide for the reception of the'bottom edges of the glass panels 14:, located in the front and ends of the case. The socket 10 may also be formed with an aperture 15, through which may pass a screw for engaging the tenon 9 of the corner-upright and preventing the withdrawal of the same from its socket. Similar metal sockets 16 are provided for the reception of the intermediate or central uprights 6, said sockets differing only from those above described in that they have rectangular bases, whereby they conform to the bottom frame at the points where they are used. The front corner-uprights and the front intermediate upright are each and all formed with a pair of vertical grooves 17, in which are received the side edges of the glass panels 14:. There being no stationary glass panels used at the back of the case the rear corner-uprights have only one vertical groove each, as shown. In lieu of the longitudinal groove 7 the rear longitudinal bar of the base-frame is provided upon its upper surface with parallel beads 18, forming tracks upon which a pair of sliding doors 19 are mounted, said beads being arranged at such distance apart that the doors may slide past each other and at the same time not interfere with the rear center upright.

The top frame of the show-case corresponds in size to the bottom frame, but has, in addition thereto, a central transverse brace or crossbar 20. This top frame 21 is mortised in a manner precisely similar to the base frame and is also provided as to its under surface with longitudinal and transverse grooves 22 and 23, corresponding to the grooves 7 and 13 of the base-frame, and also wit-h beads or tracks 24, corresponding to those 18 of the base-frame. The uprights and glass panels of the case are thus received in and bear the same relation to the top frame as described with reference to the bottom frame, and the sliding doors are grooved in their top and bottom edges to fit and slide upon said beads or tracks. The rear corner-uprights are also provided with beads 24, formed as continuations of the beads 18 and 24 and entering grooves in the end bars of the sliding doors when the latter are closed. The side, end, and central bars of the top frame are rabbeted in their adjacent edges to receive horizontal glass panels 25, the rabbets being of such depth as to bring said panels about flush with the upper surface of the top frame. A cushion or packing 26, of rubber or other suitable material, extends around the panels 25, adjacent to their edges, and receives the pressure of the top finishing-frame 27, of practically the same shape as the top frame 21, but having its several bars made of suflicient width to overlap the edges of the panels 25 and bear upon the cushions 26 for holding the glass against movement and rattling. The top finishing-frame 27 is held in place by means of screws or suitable fastenings passing therethrough and entering, preferably, the tenons at the upper ends of the several uprights of the case, and thus serving to hold all the parts together.

In lieu of the top frame 21 and the top finishing-frame 27 a single top frame 28 maybe employed, the same being constructed substantially as shown in Fig. 8, having the side and end bars and intermediate cross-bar, as shown, and all of said bars being grooved upon their inside edges to receive the glass panels 25. The grooves in the rear side bar of the frame are extended entirely through such bar, as shown at 29, whereby the glass panels 25 are adapted to he slid through the rear bar and into place, after which suitable filling-strips 30 are fitted into the grooves or slots 29, so as to prevent the escape of the glass panels. The frame thus constructed is provided in its lower surface with stub mortises to receive the tenons at the upper ends of the uprights of the case, and screws or other fastening devices may be passed through the said top frame from above and into the said tenons for securing the top frame in place. Each of the sliding doors 19 is preferably composed of two independent rectangular frames, the bars of one of the frames being rabbeted at their inner edges, as at 31, to receive a glass panel, the other frame being then secured to its mate and overlapping the edges of the glass panel in such manner as to retain the same in place. A suitable packing-strip or cushion 32 may be arranged in the rabbet in which the glass is seated for preventing the glass from rattling and being broken. The top and side edges of the sliding doors are grooved, as shown, for the purpose of engaging the beads or tracks on the top and bottom frames and the rear corner-uprights, as hereinbefore referred to.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a very simple and convenient knockdown show-case is obtained, the construction of which will permit a broken glass to be easily and quickly removed and replaced by a new one without the services of an expert workman. In setting up the case the base is first placed in a horizontal position and the corner and intermediate uprights are then put in place by inserting their tenons in the mortises of such frame. The glass panels are now dropped into the grooves in the adjacent faces of the uprights and the sliding doors placed in engagement with the beads upon which they travel, after which the top frame is placed in position and brought into engagement with the upper tenons of the uprights and the top edges of the panels and also the sliding doors. After placing the horizontal top panels 25 in place and arranging the rubber cushions thereover the top finishingframe is applied and secured in place in the manner above described. An advantage of the improved case resides in the fact that it is not necessary to remove the merchandise from the interior thereof in order to replace a broken pane of glass. The construction above described adds very little, if any, to the expense over an ordinary case and efiects quite a saving in expense when replacing a broken glass panel. Should the show-case be made in octagonal form, the top glass may he slid through the front or side bar of the top frame.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A knockdown show-case comprising duplicate top and bottom rectangular frames provided at their corners with mortises, and

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in their directly-opposite surfaces with panelreceiving grooves intersecting said mortises, corner-posts provided at their ends with integral tenon projections, and with vertical grooves disposed in the same vertical plane with those of the top and bottom frames, metal socket-pieces fitting in said mortises and provided in their edges With notches registering with the grooves of the top and bottom frames, panels removably fitted at their edges in the grooves for receiving the same and also engaging in the notches of said metal socketpieces, and a separate top finishing-frame detachably fastened on the main top frame, substantially as set forth.

2. A knockdown show-case, comprising a top frame, a bottom frame, uprights interposed between said frames and provided with ings for suitable fasteners, and base-plates formed integrally With said sockets and underlying the base-frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A knockdown show-case, comprising a base-frame and a top frame both of which are formed with mortises, uprights interposed between said frames and having end tenons removably inserted in the mortises thereof, the said frames and uprights being grooved to receive glass panels, and a metal socket for each upright, the said socket being located Within one of the aforesaid mortises and provided with notches for the reception of the edges of the glass panels, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 40 W'itnesses:

M10. 0. GAITHER, JNo. V. OURRIE. 

